The Faith Connection

Will you "get Christmas'd" this year?

 

“I just got Christmas’D at NanaTaco.”

“Somebody's about to get Christmas’D at the gas station.”

“Just Christmas’D a lady in the drive-thru as I'm pulling off.  She is screaming.”

Those are some of the “tweets” you’ll find on line, featuring true-life testimonies of an old idea that’s been given a new twist:  doing random acts of kindness to strangers.  It’s called, “You Got Christmas’D,” and it’s the brainchild of the creative folks over at NewHope Church. 

“We’ve got 5,000-plus NewHopers going out into the community to ‘Christmas’ someone,” says Pastor Benji Kelley.  “So if they’re sitting in a café somewhere and if there’s a person behind them, they might pick up their coffee, buy it for them and say, ‘You got Christmas’D!’   Or, let’s say your neighbor is crazy-busy and you notice their car needs washing or their leaves need to be raked.  We’ve got stories of NewHopers raking a yard and leaving a card that says, ‘You got Christmas’D’.”

NewHope has printed up thousands of cards for its members to pass on or leave behind after they’ve done their good deeds.  And listed on the card is a website, YouGotChristmasD.com .   There, the recipient can learn more about the idea and post their experience.

Kelley says it’s a take-off on the prank TV show, “Punk’d,” except that in this case it’s not to trick anyone, but to bless them.  He says members of the multi-site church, with campuses in Durham, Garner and Sanford, have really taken to the idea.

“I think of one story the other day-- somebody bought the food behind them in the drive-thru at Wendy’s and they got so excited and were having so much fun with it that they drove off and forgot to get their own food!   It’s the whole pay-it-forward notion:  God has Christmas’D us with this incredible gift of love in Christ.  Let’s go out and give that same gift of love to other people.”

Pastor Kelley says he’s tying it all together with a series of sermons this month on the true meaning of Christmas.  NewHope’s You Got Christmas’D  campaign will continue until the end of December, but Kelley says that won’t be the end of it.

“We already know we’re going to do it next year as well because this thing has caught on so big.  It’ll be something we do for several years -- ride this wave.”

You can read more stories about people who have been Christmas’D  at this link.

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Several Triangle churches, including Watts Chapel Missionary Baptist in Raleigh, along with Union Baptist and White Rock Baptist in Durham, have banded together to collect much-needed items for victims of Superstorm Sandy in the northeast.  The winter coats, blankets, diapers, toiletries, etc. will be sent to Operation Newark Recovery in New Jersey.  The project began on November 25^th, with a final collection celebration to take place at Watts Chapel during the church’s Christmas concert this Sunday evening (December 16^th) at 5pm.

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Bishop Michael Burbidge will perform the Rite of Blessing of the Child in the Womb this Sunday, at Saint Michael the Archangel in Cary.  Expectant families are asked to attend the 10:30am Mass to receive a special blessing from the Bishop.  Many other parishes across the Diocese of Raleigh will mark the ceremony in their own parishes.

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Modern hymnwriters Keith and Kristyn Getty are bringing their “Joy – An Irish Christmas” program to the Triangle again this year, this time at DPAC.   Visitors will be treated to hymns, carols, and more next Tuesday night (December 18^th).    Singers from several area churches will be lending their voices to the 300-person choir on stage that night. 

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Nativity scenes are commonplace this time of year, but Raleigh’s All Saints United Methodist Church is doing it a little differently.  The church is promising a unique Christmas Eve worship experience:  “Christmas Eve in a Barn.”  Their worship services will take place at 3:30, 5:30, and 7:30pm on December 24^th at Page Farms near Brier Creek. 

Gospel Singing, Gospel Preaching... and a Preaching Weatherman

 

These are exciting times for the 100 Men in Black.  The all-male Durham chorus is moving up in a national competition, and also getting ready to release their first single.

"We're real excited about all the different kinds of things that we've been able and blessed and fortunate to do," says Marlon West, the MIB's long-time director.  The group is in its tenth year, and specializes in gospel and inspirational music.

      photo courtesy 100 Men in Black

First, about the contest.  The MIB made the cut and have been invited to the Regionals of the Verizon "How Sweet the Sound" national gospel music competition.  They'll be headed to the Verizon Center in Washington DC next month for the event, and chartering buses so family, friends, and supporters can come along with them.

"The winner of the regional receives $10,000, and all expenses are paid for the entire group then to travel to Brooklyn, New York, for the finale in November," says West.  "And if you win in the finale, you receive a check for $25,000."

North Carolina has already made its mark on that national competition, with Tarboro's Salvation and Deliverance Church winning the top prize last year.  We'll see if the Tar Heel state can win it two years in a row.

West says the MIB has that goal, and they’re also planning their first single. 

"We're having it written by Mr. Luther Barnes the gospel music recording artist out of Rocky Mount," he says.  "And we are planning to perform that single at the Carolina Theatre for our annual concert along with Mr. Barnes on Sunday, October 14th, 5pm.   Tickets should be available at the Carolina Theatre box office within a week."

Although the number "100" is in the group’s name, that's more of a goal than a reality.  Right now the chorus consists of about 75 singers, ranging from boys to senior men.  They’ll be auditioning for new members later this fall. 

But as much as they love singing, West tells me the Men in Black also enjoy mentoring and serving.

“We love doing community kinds of things.  Reaching out to young boys in the prison.  We have developed a very strong relationship with C. A. Dillon (Youth Development Center in Butner).  One of our big goals with that is developing relationships there, so that when one of those young males comes out of that prison setting they'll know -- for those of them that are local -- that they have a place where they can come and use their gifts and talents in a positive way.”

I’ll keep you updated on their progress in the gospel competition.  In the meantime, you can enjoy the Men in Black’s rendition of The Star Spangled Banner at this link.

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The Triangle Jewish Chorale is looking for singers for their upcoming fall and spring seasons.  The first audition for the fall will take place Tuesday, September 4^th, at the Levin Jewish Community Center in Durham.  You don’t have to be Jewish to be a member of the Chorale, but you must have a desire to perform Jewish music in English, Hebrew, and Yiddish.  Here's a clip of them in performance.

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One church – thousands of locations.  That’s the goal of Harvest America, an evangelical outreach of California-based Pastor Greg Laurie.  This Sunday, dozens of North Carolina churches will join with churches across the nation and in more than 30 countries for an old-fashioned crusade using ultra-modern technology.  Laurie’s proclamation of the Christian Gospel will be live-streamed via satellite to churches, theaters, coffee houses, etc.  You can find a location near you at this link.

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Should we be calling him “Big Preacher,” instead?

ABC11’s morning meteorologist Don “Big Weather” Schwenneker will deliver the sermon this Sunday at Holly Springs United Methodist Church.  He tells me the subject will be “Grumbling Equals Stumbling.”  It’ll be Don’s first time preaching at the church, where he serves as an assistant lay leader.

 

Oldies but Goodies at Local Church

 

One of the area’s most colorful and entertaining church outreaches to the community is coming up again this Friday. The youth and adults of White Plains United Methodist Church in Cary will turn back the hands of time for their annual Oldies Drive-in. They’ll transform the church parking lot into a 1950s style drive-in restaurant -- something they've been doing for 17 years now.

"It's basically the American Grafitti or Happy Days-type of culture and music they they're trying to recreate," says Rob Phillips, the Director of Youth Ministries.

They’ll serve classic “diner” food (with curbside service at your car), and have live music from the 50s and 60s. You’ll also see vintage cars and plenty of poodle skirts and biker jackets. 

"People can actually eat at their car like a classic drive-in," Phllips says, "and then they can get out and walk around to see the entertainment and classic cars."

Even "Elvis" (impersonator Wayne Tindle) will make an appearance.

   Elvis impersonator Wayne Tindle entertains at the Oldies Drive-in     photos courtesy White Plains UMC
 

The event is from 5 to 9 p.m., at a cost of 3 bucks a carload. Pre-1970 vehicles will be allowed in for free! Proceeds will benefit the church's various ministries -- but the emphasis is on fun.

"We call it an outreach event, because we don't really make a lot of money on it," Phillips told me. "It takes easily a hundred volunteers to pull this off. It's an outreach because it brings in a lot of people from the community and it shows the church can be a fun place and a fellowship place."

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It’s been quite a week for Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Raleigh Catholic Diocese. The Bishop and other Catholic leaders from the region have been at the Vatican for what’s called an ad limina visit. The trip is required at regular intervals for every diocese in the world, so that a status report can be presented to the Pope. You can read more about Bishop Burbidge’s visit with Pope Benedict XVI – and see photos – at this link.

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Durham’s Sanctuary United Methodist Church is planning something extra special this Memorial Day. The church will present a long overdue honor to a World War II hero. PFC Joe “Reece” Lyndon Jr. landed at Omaha Beach in the D-Day invasion, fought across France, and ended up a wounded prisoner of war. Although he earned a number of awards for his service and valor, PFC Lyndon never received the Bronze Star that was awarded retroactively to all the recipients of the Combat Infantry Badge.

 

That will all change on May 28^th. Sanctuary UMC and the Combat Infantrymen’s Association will award the Bronze Star to Lyndon’s son, Joe Lyndon III of Durham. It will be part of a service to honor all those who’ve paid the ultimate price in service to their country. The program will run from 1 to 2 p.m.

 

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What matters to former UNC stand-out and future NBA’er Tyler Zeller more than basketball? His faith. Zeller gave an interview recently with his pastor, J.D. Greear of Durham’s Summit Church, before the congregation. Here's the link to the video clip.

 

Church Service Features Music of U2

 

 

Rock music will meet the Rock of Ages next Sunday evening at First Reformed Church of Cary. The church will host a “U2charist,” a traditional Communion service with a non-traditional accompaniment: the music of U2.

 “It is not a concert or U2 appreciation night,” says Nola Boezeman, First Reformed’s Intern Pastor. “The central focus of the worship service is the Eucharist. The Communion table will be at the front and center of the sanctuary the entire evening and formal Communion liturgy will be used. Just as with our traditional worship services on Sunday mornings, our chief end for the U2charist is to glorify God.”

 The music will be performed live by U2FX, a local band which has played at a number of similar services in recent years. Songs will include Beautiful Day, Where the Streets Have No Name, and Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.

 Says Boezeman, “The songs of the evening center on these themes: desire for God, God’s love for the poor, and God’s call for justice for the exploited and oppressed.  A love offering will be collected and given, in its entirety, to Dorcas Ministries of Cary.”

Dorcas Ministries provides emergency assistance to people in desperate need in the Cary, Morrisville, and New Hill areas. The U2charist is open to the public and will take place April 29^th at 6:30 p.m.

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Speaking of helping folks in need, few organizations do it better in eastern North Carolina than Catholic Charities, and they’ll be celebrating that fact next Saturday night (April 28^th). The Second Annual Celebrate God's Gifts Gala, hosted by Raleigh Diocese Bishop Michael Burbidge, will take place at the Hilton North Raleigh.  Last year, the seven regional offices of Catholic Charities served 16,000 families, providing them with everything from emergency assistance to long-term counseling and support. 

ABC11’s Tisha Powell will emcee the Gala, which will take place from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.  "I'm hoping to raise much needed funds for so many wonderful programs," Tisha told me.  "I'm sure it'll be a night of fun and fellowship and I'm honored the Diocese of Raleigh asked me to fill such an important role for the evening."

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Raleigh’s Providence Baptist Church is throwing a little party for some friends -- 650 of them!  The church is hosting its semi-annual Joy Prom, a terrific event for the local special needs community.  Geared for those 16 and older with developmental and/or physical impairments, the prom will feature food and dancing, along with hair and make-up attendants -- and even paparazzi!  It'll take place this Friday night.  Registration for guests is already closed, but the church could still use some volunteers to help out.  More info about that here.

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Holocaust survivor Jay Ipson will be the keynoter Sunday for the 30^th annual State of North Carolina Holocaust Observance, taking place at Raleigh’s Temple Beth Or.  Ipson is the founder and executive director of the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Ricmmond.  More details about the annual commemoration at this link.

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They’ll be lacing up their racing (and walking) shoes Sunday afternoon at Edenton Street United Methodist Church. The church’s 2012 Race of Grace will raise much-needed funds for Urban Ministries of Wake County and the Women’s Center of Wake County.  Registered participants will do a 5K run/walk in downtown Raleigh.

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And congratulations to First Baptist Church of Chapel Hill, which is celebrating its 147^th anniversary this week.  Events are scheduled April 25th through the 27th at 6:30 p.m., culminating with a special service Sunday morning at 11:00.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local Pastor has "20/20 Vision"

 

What do you do when your congregation meets on seven campuses – and you want to bring them all together?  You rent out the Durham Performing Arts Center, of course.  

Looking ahead to the next 10 years:  Durham-based newhope church

That’s what they’re doing at newhope church this coming Sunday, as the church celebrates its tenth anniversary.  Says Pastor Benji Kelley:  “We were looking really hard for a place that could hold everybody since we really wanted to worship under the same roof at one time, and there aren't that many places in this area that can hold us anymore.  So, DPAC was just the perfect venue.”

They call it “Vision Day,” a time set aside to reflect on newhope’s past decade and to look ahead to the next.  Average Sunday attendance at the church’s campuses now tops more than 3,000 – quite an achievement for a church that’s barely been around ten years.  And Dr. Kelley has even bigger plans:

“Multi-site is definitely something that God has been blessing us with great favor these days,” he says, “so I will lay out a vision on January 22nd that by the year 2020 -- and I'm calling it a 20/20 vision -- we hope and pray we can be a church with 20 campuses, a church with 20 locations.”

Twenty campuses?  Perhaps not so unbelievable when you consider that newhope began its “multi-site” approach just two years ago -- and is now up to seven.  Last year alone the church added 335 members, including 213 baptisms.

newhope’s tagline is “Where reverence meets relevance,” reflecting the staff’s goal to teach biblical concepts in a contemporary light.  The church’s services – called “worship celebrations”  – feature casual dress and a band.   And Kelley’s preaching?  He tells me he likes to “keep it real.”

“I've often said I think it's the greatest sin in the world to take the most exciting news the world has ever known, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and bore people to death with it.  So we work really hard to keep it relevant, where it connects with people, where it’s applicable to how they're living.  How to get through life, how to raise families.  We try to read the scripture through the lens of, how do we apply this today in the 21st century?”

newhope’s Vision Day begins at 9:30 this Sunday morning and is open to all.  They’ll also be collecting coats and cans that day for a charity drive. 

“We're just going to keep focusing on our vision, which is to reach people for Christ, teach the Bible and release fully devoted followers. You see (these words) on the front of our building:  Reach, Teach, and Release.  Try to give people new hope.”

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The January 27^th Shabbat (Sabbath) service at Raleigh’s Temple Beth Or should be a memorable one, as two milestones are marked.  The Temple is celebrating its centennial year, and the Jewish Federation of Raleigh-Cary is turning 25.  The Federation will use the occasion to honor Temple Beth Or, along with local leaders and volunteers who have helped strengthen Jewish identity in the community down through the years.  The service starts at 6:30pm.

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The celebrated Women's Voices Chorus performs at not one, but two Triangle churches this weekend.  The group’s winter concert, entitled “America the Beautiful Mosaic,” will be performed at Durham’s First Presbyterian Church Saturday at 4pm, and University United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill, Sunday at 3pm.  The concert will feature a diverse collection of music styles, from jazz standards to Jewish-American and Native American traditions.   There is a fee for admission.

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No more sectarian prayers at Forsyth County Commission meetings – and by implication, at county and municipal meetings across North Carolina.  The US Supreme Court this week refused to hear an appeal of a lower court’s ruling on the issue.  As a result, the lower court’s ruling – that prayers to a specific deity could not take place at public meetings – will stand.  You can read more about the 5-year long battle over the prayer controversy at this link.

Big, and getting bigger

  

Big changes are coming to Durham’s World Overcomers Christian Church – again. The church, which began in 2003 with fewer than a dozen people, now has more than 7,000 and is bursting at the seams in its services.  So this coming Sunday will mark a major expansion.

 "It's really us going from approximately 50,000 square feet to over 100,000 square feet of space,” says World Overcomers Senior Pastor and founder, Andy Thompson.  “When we moved here (to our current location), we went from a sanctuary that sat about 400 to a sanctuary that seats about 1,400.  And we started with just two services.  But within a year, we were at three services again."

The church is currently worshiping in space it leases at a business park on S. Miami Boulevard.  “Pastor Andy,” as he’s known, told me the original plan to deal with the growth was a traditional one:  buy land and build a new sanctuary, or buy an existing large building and renovate it to accommodate the crowds.  But then the recession hit, money got tight, and a new idea emerged – why not just continue leasing, but in a much larger space?

Pastor Andy Thompson at the Y. E. Smith Elementary School library, which his church helped to renovate                      

 Photo courtesy World Overcomers Church

"It has caused me to re-evaluate my definition of what it means to be a church,” he says.  “Am I really called to be in the land real estate development business?  Is that what I'm supposed to be doing?  Is that the most effective use of the church's resources?  Do we really want to put all of our eggs in one basket -- multiplied millions of dollars in one building, or would it be smarter for us to lease the space?  Then we can put development dollars more into the community."

He told me one building they had their eyes on would’ve cost more than $20 million dollars to renovate and still may not have been large enough. But moving into contiguous space next door will cost only a fraction of that and will provide room to seat 3,000 people.  Additionally, World Overcomers will greatly expand its youth facilities, adding a full gymnasium and a rock climbing wall.

“My youth ministry has just exploded,” Thompson says.  “I've got a really dynamic youth pastor over here and I'm probably averaging 500 teenagers."

This coming Sunday’s services will be a “soft opening” for the new facilities, with an official dedication coming in February or March.  Pastor Andy credits God for his church’s rapid expansion – plus years of hard work and planning.

“I've been in the ministry since I was 15 years old.  I'm 43.  I've been preaching for 27 years.  I've spent 20 years helping other people in their ministries, so I'm not a novice.  When I came here (to Durham), I knew what I wanted to do.  I had a strong idea of what worked what didn't work."

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Raleigh’s Edenton Street United Methodist Church has a huge project planned for this Saturday (December 17^th). They’re signing up volunteers to package 60,000 meals for hungry children through the locally-based charity Stop Hunger Now.  Interested?  More details here.

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What would the Christmas season be without a drive-thru Nativity?  You can check out the one at Raleigh’s Longview Baptist Church December 16^th through 18^th, 7 to 9pm.

 

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How are the changes to the Roman Catholic Missal going over?  The Washington Post interviewed parishioners after the first Sunday featuring the new translation (November 27^th), and found a relatively smooth transition.  Here's the video clip.

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The folks with North Carolina Baptist Men knew their gigantic disaster relief unit Manna One was impressive.  But now they can call it a “Modern Marvel.”  The 40-foot long 18-wheeler can convert into a fully operational kitchen in just three hours.  It was recently featured in an episode of Modern Marvels on the History Channel.  You can read about that in this article.

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Hanukkah begins December 20^th at sundown. And to get the faithful into the spirit, the Orthodox Jewish a capella group the Maccabeats has a new Hannukkah song/video out that tells the story of the ancient miracle in a new and catchy way.  Here's the link.

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And speaking of music, a New Jersey church is soliciting submissions from around the globe so it can create a “virtual Christmas choir.”  They want folks to sing and record a version of “Silent Night” so they can assemble all the videos and make one massive internet choir.  Should be impressive if they can pull it off.  Here are the details.

 

Too Many Angels?

 

There are going to be a lot more angels in Wake County this Christmas season. But don’t think of that is a good thing. "We saw a huge jump last year as well,” says Haven Sink.

 

Sink is the spokeswoman for the Salvation Army of Wake County. And the angels I’m talking about are children from economically challenged families. The kids will be represented by angel symbols on Christmas trees in the local malls. As we move into the Salvation Army’s busiest season of the year, the faith-based agency’s Angel Tree program is up and running again.

“Last year we went from 5,600 kids (in 2009) to 7,200 kids, just because the economy went south,” says Sink. “And we know it's really not gotten any better this year."

In fact, the Salvation Army says 7,782 children ages 12 and under will be represented by angels this year -- an increase of more than 500. The Angel Tree program helps provide Christmas gifts for those children. Qualifying families are registered to receive a stocking and new clothing, and to visit the Salvation Army’s Toy Shop. The gifts are distributed in mid-December. But those items first have to be donated by the public -- by you.

"We have volunteers who help people choose an angel off the tree," says Sink, "and then those same volunteers can accept the donations that come back, right there at the mall. So people can shop for a child while they're out doing their holiday shopping, and bring those items right back to the Angel Tree location in the mall."

The Salvation Army will need more than 24,000 new toys, clothing items, and stocking stuffers to be donated in November and December. Additionally, the agency will rely on hundreds of volunteers to help with set up and distribution. If you’d like to help, visit their website at www.keepthebellringing.org, and look for the Angel Trees at Crabtree Valley Mall, Triangle Town Center, and Cary Towne Center.

“We do see a huge response from the community every year,” Sink told me, “but with the increase in children registered the past two years, it has been very difficult for us to meet the needs. We provide something for every child that is registered in our system but we do have a hard time making it a very meaningful gift sometimes since we have so many children. It's hard for the community to keep up.”

There are a lot of compassionate people in our area. Let’s see if every “angel” is covered this year.

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Speaking of compassionate people, folks in Carthage are showing their support for a young man who’s fighting a very serious illness – and now that support has gone international. 12-Year-old Cooper Ellington suffers from a genetic condition called VHL disease. Last summer he underwent a 12-hour surgery to remove a tumor on his brain stem, and he’s now involved in intense rehabilitation therapy.

Cooper Ellington and his dad, NC State Trooper Reid Cooper

A Facebook page has been set up --"Praying for Cooper Ellington" -- to help the family with prayers and support. In a short time it’s picked up members from all 50 states and seven other countries. Supporters have also distributed 2,500 "Praying for Cooper" bracelets.

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What’s it like being a Muslim in North Carolina today? Members of the Muslim Student Association at Duke University fanned out across the state to find out. Eight students used their fall break to visit Muslims in several cities and towns, and to record their experiences. You can read about it in their blog at this link.

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I can taste it now. On Friday (November 4^th), Raleigh’s Hayes Barton Baptist Church is having its 4^th annual Barbecue Dinner Missions fundraiser. There’ll be music, fellowship, fun – and of course, lots of ‘cue. Drive-thru, pick-up, and delivery. You can find the details here.

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In a case that could have national implications, the Forsyth County, NC, Board of Commissioners has appealed to the US Supreme Court in their effort to overturn a judicial ban on sectarian prayers at Commission meetings. The issue hit the courts when some citizens objected to the name of Jesus being mentioned in opening prayers at meetings. You can read more about the case here.

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Congratulations to Salvation and Deliverance Church of Tarboro, winner of Verizon’s 2011 "How Sweet the Sound" national choir competition. That’s right – national competition. This past Friday in Los Angeles, that smalltown church choir won top honors against singers from across the country and was given the title, “Best Overall Choir.” What makes them so good? You’ll see what wowed the judges in a video clip from an earlier regional competition they won. I promise you, you’ve never heard Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus quite like this.

 

Walking (and building) by Faith

 

The congregation at St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Chapel Hill has big plans.   Make that BIG plans.

"We believe that this is St. Paul's season," says the Rev. Thomas O. Nixon, St. Paul's pastor.

Rev. Thomas O. Nixon  next to an artist's conception of one of  St.Paul Village's buildings

This past Friday, the church held a kick-off banquet for a major multi-stage project in the Rogers Road area on the north side of town.  Church leaders envision a sprawling complex on 23 acres, featuring mixed-use affordable housing, a day care, athletic fields, senior citizen assisted living, a multicultural center, and more.  The centerpiece will be a new worship sanctuary and fellowship hall for the church.  It will all be designed to be environmentally sensitive, preserving areas of natural beauty.

"One of the desires of this vision was to provide a holistic ministry for the congregation," says Rev. Nixon.  "That we not only meet the spiritual needs but the mental, educational, and economic needs, and to deal with every age group of the congregation.  We have a very diverse age group in our congregation."

The church purchased the land for St. Paul AME Village several years ago.  Rev. Nixon told me that they hope to break ground on the first phase, which will feature the new sanctuary, fellowship hall and day care, by the end of the year.  The cost estimate for that is 3 to 4 million dollars.  Church leaders plan to spread the entire project out over ten years. 

But wait a minute.  Isn't there something called an economic downturn going on right now?

"I don't preach or believe that the God that we serve is in an economic crisis," says Nixon.  "I tell people, the one person you never see in the unemployment line or worrying about the economy is the drug dealer.  So, the money is here.  The challenge is, do we come out of the comfort of our stained glass windows and sanctuary to go re-direct those funds into Kingdom building?"

It's a huge undertaking.  But when your church is 147 years old -- having started during slavery days -- St. Paul's members know what it is to "walk by faith." 

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Update:  I reported in my last post about plans to make the faith-based movie Secrets in the Snow in Raleigh if enough seed money could be raised.  Well, guess what:  they reached their goal.  And co-producer  Brittany Goodwin emailed supporters that "every amount over the goal will go towards our final goal to cover costs of editing, marketing, etc."   Filming should take place next month.

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North Carolina’s most famous religious figure releases his newest book –- his 30^th -- this week.  The Rev. Billy Graham turns 93 next month, and appropriately enough, the book is about aging.  You can read an excerpt from Nearing Home:  Life, Faith and Finishing Well  at this link.

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They say music is the universal language.  And I can think of no greater example than the Heritage Mass Choir.  This group from South Korea loves African-American gospel music.  I can't understand what they're saying -- but I can understand what they're saying!  Check 'em out here.

A Blizzard on the Way?

So far this year Raleigh has experienced a tornado, an earthquake, and a hurricane. And coming in November, you may be able to add a blizzard to the mix.

That weather event, however, would be planned and controlled. The “blizzard” would be created for the production of a feature length faith-based film called Secrets in the Snow. It’s about six teens trapped in their school during a blizzard.

“They get snowed into their high school,” says co-producer Aaron Michael Johnson, “and each of them is dealing with something or some sort of secret that they have. We have all of these different issues that we’re dealing with in a faith-based way. We’re really seeing what the Lord can do in each of these situations as far as all of our characters go. With each of them there’s a different moral to be learned.”

The film is the brainchild of local filmmaker Brittany Goodwin, who wanted to make a movie the whole family could watch, and which would teach strong moral lessons. She asked Johnson, a Charlotte-based actor, if he would like to co-produce it, and he agreed.

“We wanted to create this movie based solely on the fact that it’s a Christian movie and it’s still going to be entertaining and teach you something,” Johnson told me. “We’ve got an awesome cast, a good story. There’s comedy, some drama, and tearjerkers -- stuff like that.”

Filming is expected to take about 10-12 days in November at two Raleigh private schools that have made their facilities available. But production can take place only if enough funds are raised first. You can read about that, and hear more about the project, in this promotional clip.

Johnson says if all goes well, Secrets in the Snow will be released on DVD next year and possibly even get theater distribution. One small thing, however: how do you create a blizzard in Raleigh?

“There’s a company called Snow My Yard, and what they do, basically, is you buy snow by the ton,” says Johnson. “And they come out, they bring their their dump trucks and they just blow snow all over the entire place. We’ll be purchasing snow and we’ll be having a huge fun snow day in Raleigh.”

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Last year's Red Mass in Raleigh (photo courtesy Diocese of Raleigh)

Friday, October 7^th, will be a special time for many in Raleigh’s legal and judicial professions. The annual Red Mass will take place at Sacred Heart Cathedral at 12:10pm. The Red Mass is a tradition in the Catholic Church dating back to the 13^th century. The Mass gets its name from the red liturgical garments worn. The vestments signify the flames of the Holy Spirit, whose guidance is sought for those who pursue justice.

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This Friday evening at sundown marks the start of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Rabbi Daniel Greyber of Durham’s Beth El Synagogue says it’s the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.

“The Bible itself describes Yom Kippur as a Sabbath of Sabbaths, a Shabbat of Shabbats,” he told me. “It’s a day of forgiveness between God and the Jewish people, a day in which Jews come together and reflect on the year which has passed and how we can be better people towards one another and in the world as well. It’s a day of introspection and reflection, and ultimately a day of joy. We believe and trust in God’s forgiveness and in God’s goodness, and take energy from this day into the year.”

Beth El is having a pre-fast dinner at 4:45pm Friday, with a Yom Kippur services beginning Saturday morning at 8:30. It’s the one holiday of the year that even many non-religious Jews wouldn’t miss going to synagogue.

“People come for different reasons,” Greyber says, “but I think people want to reconnect with community and also with their traditions. People have a sense of the holiness of the day. You have the famous example of Sandy Koufax. Many years ago when he was a pitcher for the Dodgers he would not pitch on Yom Kippur. He was not a religious Jew where it was going to stand in his way pitching on other days, but Yom Kippur was understood to be qualitatively different.”

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Yom Kippur is the culmination of the Jewish High Holy Days -- the “Days of Awe.” That ten day period began last Thursday with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. For some, it was a time of solemnity and personal reflection. For others, a time of celebrating and even – break dancing! Check out this clip.

Here Come the Men in Black!

 

Some of the Triangle's best singers are busy preparing for a concert tour of Durham.  Durham, England, that is.

 
Durham's "100 Men in Black"

The 100 Men in Black chorus will travel overseas in October for multiple performances in Durham, England. "We're all excited," says MIB founder and director Marlon West about the long-planned trip to Durham’s sister city.  “And now it's right around the corner." 

The Men in Black started in 2003 at Orange Grove Missionary Baptist Church, but has since become an independent group that includes men from multiple churches and the general community.  Despite the “100” number in the name, the actual size fluctuates and is now about 70.  The Men in Black are a multi-generational male chorus – featuring seniors and students, and fathers and sons.  "We're always reaching out to the youths, trying to build that component up," West says.

The group's itinerary in England will include performances at churches, castles, and concert halls.

"They'll hear a variety of music," West told me. "Even though we are a male chorus, I try to make sure that we try to give a diverse selection of music.  Anything from traditional gospel, traditional quartet, classical gospel music.  You'll get some a cappella, you'll get some anthems.  Even things like the national anthem and patriotic music.  We try to do a wide variety and different styles of music."

Right now, the MIB are holding a series of concerts in our area to raise money for the trip. The next local concerts will be September 16^th at Mt. Calvary United Church of Christ, and September 25^th at Grace Baptist Church.  On October 16^th, the MIB will hold their annual concert at Union Baptist.  And then, from October 21 – 29^th, it’s jolly old England.  West says the group hopes to raise another $10,000 before the trip.

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A Bible verse asks the question, “Who dares despise the day of small things?”  Certainly not Raleigh’s Gary Williams.  He has recently started his own internet radio station, playing gospel music and   Christian programming.  Right now, RBC1057.com is just a one-man operation, but Williams, who’s done behind-the-scenes and announcing work at stations since he was a teenager, isn’t by himself on the air.

“We have preaching and teaching programs,” he says.  “National pastors such as Bishop T.D. Jakes and Dr. Tony Evans, and local pastors as well.”  Williams says the station gets about 4-5,000 listeners on a daily basis, and since it’s on the ‘net, it can be heard world-wide.  And Williams has even bigger plans:  he’s working on an internet-only Christian/Family TV station.

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If you missed last week’s major news from the Catholic Diocese of  Raleigh, here are links to Shae Crisson’s Eyewitness News report on the big cathedral announcement, and to Bishop Michael Burbidge’s 10-minute news conference.

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Pump gas.  Clean windows.  Make people smile.  Those are the marching orders for volunteers from Living Word Family Church in Wake Forest for this Saturday (September 17^th).  They’ll be at the Cruizers gas station on Capital Boulevard from 12:30 to 3 p.m. to spread a little cheer.  And by the way, they’ll be offering .50 cents off per gallon of gas then, too!  Last spring when the church did this, they made a lot of folks very happy.